Autumn is the perfect time to learn about spiders and, if you can get in early with preschoolers, you can hopefully have them think spiders are fascinating rather than scary! This fun sensory bin will keep them entertained with the squidgy textures, the colours to sort, and just playing with those cute arachnids!
What are sensory bins?
A sensory bin is a large plastic box or other container filled with a base material and other loose parts or small objects that have been carefully selected to stimulate the senses.
Sensory bins are usually an intentional combination of textures and colours, but they may also include smells and sounds, and even things children can eat such as fresh herbs.
What are sensory bins filled with?
Sensory bins can be filled with various materials, such as coloured dry rice, dry beans or lentils, shredded paper, sand, small stones, water beads, pompoms, water and more.
This sensory bin contains a webbing material that the spiders' legs cling onto and stretches like spider webs, so cool!
What age are sensory bins for?
Sensory bins are ideal for older babies and toddlers, but preschool children and older will still enjoy playing with them. Sensory bins can also be used for learning experiences for preschoolers.
With older babies and young toddlers, you will need to supervise carefully and make sure there are no small objects that could be swallowed.
Sensory play is also ideal for older children with disorders such as autism who will enjoy playing with sensory materials.
How do sensory bins help children learn?
Sensory bins enable young children to get hands-on and to explore the world through their senses. They can also engender focus and help children to calm down.
The bins are often themed to fit around a learning theme, or a subject children are interested in. They can help children to learn more about a topic or about the world, to explore their senses and to examine or test concepts like cause and effect.
How to Make a Spider Sorting Bin for Sensory Play
This spider sensory bin is super quick and easy to set up and perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Moving the spiders around helps with hand to eye coordination and fine motor skills. You can also bring in other learning, such as counting and colour recognition.
Add this early childhood development to your minibeast theme at preschool or set it up at home to develop early childhood development skills. This simple fine motor sensory bin requires only a couple of materials, both of which can be used again and again, so it's an inexpensive activity.
This spider sorting activity is perfect for older babies up through toddlers to preschoolers, although you will need to supervise to make sure nothing gets put in mouths!
Materials
Here are all the materials you'll need:
- Sensory bin
- Web material - we used this recycled polyester filling
- Colourful plastic spider rings
Instructions
1. Stretch out the spider web and place in the sensory bin.
2. (Optional) Cut the rings off the spiders, or you can leave them intact.
Any leftover spider rings make great decorations for these easy fairy cakes, the perfect post-play snack!
3. Place the spiders in their 'web'.
4. Ask children to sort the spiders according to colour
or to count them, or just to play!
Have fun!
More sensory play ideas:
- How to Make an Autumn Leaves Sensory Bottle
- Sensory Bins Little Kids Will Love
- How to Make Fun Sensory Bins for Young Learners
- How to Make a Treasure Basket for Heuristic Play
Pin it:
This post contains product and service links for your convenience. By clicking on these links I may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I only suggest resources and items I believe in and highly recommend. Find out more on our Disclosure page.